Chapter 155: The Train Swindler

Zhou Hao ran a hand through his hair in deep frustration. He simply could not fathom what was going on in the minds of these people. Were they really that obsessed with matchmaking? Or was their underlying motive to use his marriage as a stepping stone for their own career advancements? What era was this, yet people still held such backward ideas? Even more shamelessly, they weren't even part of his immediate nuclear family, yet they insisted on meddling in their nephew's matrimonial affairs. Just how thick-skinned could they possibly be?

"If it weren't for my mother and my grandmother, I would have given her a piece of my mind directly. What kind of person is she?" Zhou Hao was thoroughly exasperated. If not for that inexplicable eldest aunt of his, would he have needed to travel so far away just to work? On second thought, though, if he hadn't gone that far away, he never would have met Chen Xin. It was precisely because of this realization that he had exercised so much tolerance toward his eldest aunt. Upon returning home this time, he had seen her just once for a single meal, after which he deliberately avoided any further contact.

"Pay no mind to that woman." Zhou Hao's youngest uncle held no respect for his eldest sister-in-law either, finding her not only petty and small-minded but also the epitome of a profit-driven individual.

Their family was in commerce, so being profit-oriented wasn't necessarily a fatal flaw, but one still needed to have a bottom line as a human being. She even went out of her way to scheme against her own flesh and blood—who on earth had spoiled her into such audacity?

The youngest uncle also had a wife, who was an actuary by profession. She held an equally dim view of the eldest sister-in-law; the two sisters-in-law couldn't even be bothered to exchange pleasantries when they met, refusing to put on even a superficial pretense of civility.

Upon returning to the house that Chen Xin had purchased, the aunt and the nephew sat together in the backyard swing chair, taking in the scenery and enjoying some pastries.

"Have you really never considered taking up a corporate job? My youngest uncle's company is exceptionally successful."

"I can tell that your youngest uncle is a man of grand ambitions, but unfortunately, I lack any lofty aspirations. I am thoroughly content with my life just as it is right now."

Having both wealth and leisure, being able to savor fine cuisine and tour scenic mountains and rivers, while effortlessly making money along the way—this was the kind of existence reserved for immortals! What on earth could possess her to subject herself to a grueling nine-to-five grind just to risk her life for a paycheck?

Zhou Hao shook his head, choosing not to pressure Chen Xin any further. This young woman possessed an extraordinary degree of foresight and planning regarding her own life. Watching her transition from having absolutely nothing to her current status over the mere span of three or four years, she had already amassed a fortune that most people would never acquire in a lifetime.

"So, are you planning to completely renovate this estate?"

"Not for the moment. I want to see how your youngest uncle approaches his designs, and then I'll remodel it slightly to complement his style. This old house carries a rich history and possesses a very unique charm. Whether I live here myself or convert it into a guesthouse, it would be magnificent. Even if I renovate, I only intend to overhaul the exterior while leaving the interior structure largely untouched. Of course, I will need to bring in some modern appliances and furniture. But there's no rush for that right now; I'll deal with it after I graduate."

"Are you just going to leave this house sitting empty, then? Old houses deteriorate very quickly if no one lives in them."

"We'll see. My course load next semester isn't heavy, and I'll be spending most of my time doing translation work alongside my professor. Therefore, I'm planning to persuade my professor to bring some projects here. At the very least, I can come over during the winter and summer breaks."

Zhang Zhang was only in kindergarten right now. By the time Chen Xin finished her master's degree, Zhang Zhang would be roughly elementary school age. She hadn't yet decided whether to go abroad for higher education to pad her resume; tuition fees weren't a concern, but she was worried that dragging Zhang Zhang back and forth between domestic and international locations would disrupt the child's academic progress.

However, abandoning Zhang Zhang at a boarding school and washing her hands of the matter was completely out of the question. She had sworn before the graves of Zhang Zhang's parents that she would raise the child to become a capable and accomplished person. Furthermore, sending such a young child off to a boarding school worried her; she feared it might negatively shape Zhang Zhang's character, making future behavioral corrections exceedingly difficult.

Just as the aunt and nephew were thoroughly enjoying themselves there, they received a phone call from the Zhang family one late afternoon.

"Second Sister's agritainment resort is about to open? Understood, I'll head right back."

She had originally planned to stay and travel until the start of the semester, but upon hearing that Second Sister Zhang's agritainment business was scheduled to open on August twenty-eighth, Chen Xin decided to return a little earlier so she could lend a hand.

Zhou Hao still had some leave remaining. Initially, he had intended to travel with Chen Xin until her classes resumed, but now that Chen Xin was leaving, he had no desire to linger here alone either. After notifying his family, he prepared to head straight back inland from Binnan.

Zhou Yu and the other cousin were deeply displeased, complaining that the two adults had bailed on them yet again. In the end, it took a promise from Chen Xin to mail them boxes of local delicacies upon her return to appease the ruffled feathers of the two youths.

Their return journey involved a flight followed by a train transfer, taking relatively little time—they arrived within a day and a half.

This was Zhou Hao's first time visiting the Zhang family, and he felt somewhat nervous along the way, repeatedly asking Chen Xin whether they should stop to buy gifts or anything similar.

"What on earth are you so nervous about? They aren't going to eat you. Besides, those gift boxes you want to buy are entirely flashy and impractical for them. You'd be much better off just buying some good local treats down at the foot of the mountain. Alright, alright, once we get there, I'll tell you what to get."

Looking at Zhou Hao with a mixture of amusement and exasperation, Chen Xin comforted him by explaining the current situation of the Zhang family.

"Second Sister's agritainment resort is located halfway up the mountain. I heard they're going to build a branch road leading to the old tea plantation, which will allow them to open the plantation up as a tourist attraction in the future. Second Sister is capitalizing on this exact vision, hoping to lay a solid foundation beforehand. Once we get there, I'll also need to invite Lei Bang. You're familiar with him, so I'll be counting on you to keep him company."

"No problem at all. That guy is completely in his element working at the grassroots level. I heard his eldest uncle wanted to transfer him away recently, but he flatly refused, saying he wants to rely on his own efforts to climb the ranks step by step. He believes that if he relies on family patronage, although his initial position might be higher, his long-term development won't be nearly as strong as if he carved out his own path."

"Didn't I hear people say it's much easier to advance if you have connections?"

"Connections certainly help, but if you fail to demonstrate genuine capability of your own, your backers can only force you upward. The higher you go, the harder it is to produce real results, and the harder it is to measure up against others. Lei Bang lacks no hidden promoters behind the scenes; as long as he delivers tangible results, his promotion will follow naturally, and he won't give people grounds for resentment. Moreover, as long as his personal competence is formidable, his family's influence only needs to protect him from having his achievements stolen by rivals—requiring minimal effort on their part. The accumulated political capital can then be used to push another family member forward, and only by operating this way can a family truly prosper."

"I really don't understand the mindset of you people from prominent families. Life is so much better for ordinary folks like us—as long as you have money and leisure, that's all that matters."

"The kind of life you live is fit for immortals! Look at everyone else, running around like crazy just to secure three meals a day. And you have the nerve to call yourself an ordinary person—give me a break." Zhou Hao retorted jokingly, before turning to take the little chubby boy to the restroom to pee.

Scarcely had the two of them left when a man approached the adjacent seat. He had the outward appearance of a decent person, but his demeanor carried a distinctly wretched and shifty air. Chen Xin narrowed her eyes, watching to see what he was up to.

"My good sister, would you be interested in purchasing some jewelry? Let me tell you, I'm a sales representative for a manufacturer. We were cheated by a commercial partner this time, and our collaboration fell through. The jewelry we brought with us has to be taken back, but our factory director told us we could sell it ourselves at prices much lower than market value. Would you care to take a look?"

Chen Xin frowned slightly. Could it be that she had actually run into this kind of low-grade scam?

Seeing that Chen Xin hadn't immediately rejected him, the man pulled out a wooden jewelry box from his briefcase. Inside, neatly laid out, were two to thirty gold necklaces, gleaming brightly under the light.